2023: Will Peter Obi get PDP Presidential Ticket?

By Adekunle Adesuji

 

Peter Obi popularly known as ‘Okwute’ of Igbo land embraced politics in 2003 when he contested the gubernatorial election in Anambra as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). However, Chris Ngige of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

The former governnor of Anambra state rejected the outcome of the election and refused to go down without a fight as he approached Court to challenge the outcome of the election in Election Petition Tribunal after three years he whither the storm as he was declared as the winner of the Anambra Governorship Election and resumed as Governor on March 15, 2007

 

But, the battle was not yet over for Anambra born billionaire as he was illegally impeached by lawmakers of the state house of assembly over allegations of impropriety and gross misconduct. Obi was replaced the next day by Virginia Etiaba, his deputy, making her the first ever female governor in Nigeria’s history.

 

However, Peter Obi who has mastered the game of politics approached Court to challenge his impeachment and and was re-instated as the governor on February 9, 2007 by the court of appeal sitting in Enugu.

 

He later disclosed that the reason for the gang up against him as the Governor of Anambra state after seven months in office was his refusal to inflate state’s budget.

 

 

After three months he was re-installed in office his political journey was again cut short as the Governor of Anambra following the general election which saw Andy Uba declared winner.

 

The Anambra born billionaire for third time returned to court to present his case that his four years tenure is yet to expire because he came into office in March 2006.

 

Few days after the emergence of Andy Uba as Governnor of Anambra state, specially in June 2007,, the supreme court upheld Obi’s contention and returned him to office.

 

This brought to an abrupt end to Uba’s tenure whose April 14, 2007 election the apex court nullified on the grounds that Obi’s four-year tenure should have remained undisturbed until March 2010.

 

Obi contested and won his re-election bid in 2010 and went ahead to rule the south-east state for another four years. He defeated Chukwuma Soludo, a professor and ex-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who is now currently the governor of Anambra state.

 

 

Educational and Career Background

 

 

The former Vice Presidential candidate in 2019 who was born into affluence in July 19, 1961  attended Christ the King College, Onitsha, where he completed his secondary school education.

 

He was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1980, graduating with a B.A (Hons) in philosophy in 1984.

 

Peter Obi attended Lagos business school, Nigeria, where he did his Chief executive program, Harvard business school, Boston, USA, where he did two programs, London School of Economics, Columbia southwest school, New York, USA, Institute for management development, Switzerland where he also got two certificates in Senior Executive Program and Chief Executive Officers program.

 

He also attended Kellogg graduate school of Management, USA, Oxford University:Said business school and Cambridge University: George business school.

 

 

Obi was chairman of Next International Nigeria Ltd, then chairman and director of Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd, Guardian Express Bank Plc, Future View Securities Ltd, Paymaster Nigeria Ltd, Chams Nigeria Ltd, Data Corp Ltd and Card Centre Ltd. He was the youngest chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc.

 

He was appointed the chairman of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) by then President Goodluck Jonathan after the 2015 general election.

 

 

Presidential Ambition

 

 

Peter Obi on March 25th , 2022 declared to contest for Presidency after heightened anticipation as he has been touted as the best choice among others who have announced their intention to lead Nigeria.

 

He made the declaration in Awka while addressing the royal father’s and Presidents-General of the 181 communities in the state at Government House, Awka.

 

He is seeking the Presidential ticket of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

 

Obi said he decided to start the journey from his state by first informing the traditional rulers and the PGs who are the custodians of the people.

 

He said: “We are all Nigerians and we know how things are shared in the country. Many people had called to ask my position on this matter and my answer then was that I needed to consult widely.

 

 

“The reason I called you, therefore, is to officially inform you that I am aspiring for the president of Nigeria in 2023.

 

“After a careful study of the country, I noticed that we’re too divided and I promise to lead a united and secure Nigeria to be able to attract foreign investments.

 

 

“The Nigeria I will lead will create jobs, boost our economy, improve education. If I have the opportunity, I will turn around the country for the better.

 

“I will move Nigeria from a consuming nation to a producing nation. As a Nigerian, I want all parts of the country to be secured. I’m not aspiring for a political position, but to serve the country.

 

” Let me assure you that I will seriously contest for the president of Nigeria on the platform of the PDP.”

 

He had be moving from one state to another in economy class airline unlike other politicians who fly private jets to meet delegates across the country.

 

 

Strength

 

 

Peter Obi is widely love by his people in South East because of how he took Anambra state from worst to better during his tenure as the Governor of the state leaving about N75M billion in the state Treasury which is not common among governors in Nigeria.

 

Peter Obi who is a good manager of resources has the tendency to find solution to economic problem ravaging the country considering his antecedent both in private and public sector .

 

 

Weakness

 

Despite his capacity to turn things around if given an opportunity, the major weakness against his aspiration is that he is not a typical Nigeria politicians who spend lavishly to secure the loyalty of the party members as the Presidential ticket normally goes for highest bidder which Peter Obi may not want to be involved in it despite enormous resources at his disposal.

 

The fact of the matter is that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates would rather go for his bidder than someone with potential to turn nation’s around.